Obituary of Eileen Theresa Ryan

Eileen Theresa Ryan It was not a coincidence that Eileen Theresa Ryan (née Schoen) was born on Thanksgiving Day in 1943. She lived a life of gratitude in which she bestowed joy, love and countless blessings on everyone around her. After a long and courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis, Eileen was surrounded by her family when she was welcomed into heaven on December 4, 2017. A lifelong resident of West Orange, Eileen was the loving daughter to Richard and Helen Schoen, beloved sister to Douglas Schoen (and wife Patricia), Janet Tichenor (and husband Albert), and Joanne Putvinski (and husband James). She attended Our Lady of Lourdes School, St. Michael's High School, and Newark State College, where she received a teaching degree. On October 30, 1965, she married her childhood sweetheart, Peter Ryan, and they would spend the next 52 years together building a wonderful life. She delighted in celebrating the holidays, and particularly Thanksgiving Day with her cherished in-laws, Ann Ryan Schaefer, Phyllis and Tim Finnegan and her many nephews and nieces. Without doubt, Eileen loved her family above all else. Adoringly referred to as Beach Grandma, she most enjoyed spending time at the shore with her daughters and "sons", Jennifer and John Galan, Kristine and Roger Demareski, Pamela and Jack Garceau, and her grandchildren, Ryan, Jake, Jack, Luke, Peter, Joseph, Patrick, Ellie, Jack, Zoe and Ben. She took great pleasure in "the family dinner", where there was always room at the table for one more. Eileen will be remembered for her kind, happy and generous heart, her positive outlook, and her unique ability to always see the good in others. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org). A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in West Orange on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 11 am. Arrangements are entrusted to The Dangler Funeral Home of West Orange, 340 Main Street West Orange. Letters of condolence may be posted at danglerfuneralhome.com.